Smoking article holder

Abstract

A smoking article holder for cigars or cigarettes and the like includes an elongate curved tray member for placement of the smoking article therein, and a snap fastener socket member to enable the holder to be snapped to a corresponding snap fastener stud, such as on a golf bag or the like.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to smoking and sports, and more particularly to a smoking article holder that is adapted for use in certain sports or situations.

Some participants in certain sports, such as golf, for example, enjoy smoking while taking part in the sport. Cigar smoking is currently popular for golfers. However, when the golfer is ready to take his turn to hit the ball, it is necessary to take the cigar out of his mouth, and temporarily set it aside, as keeping the cigar in the mouth while swinging the golf club would likely interfere with the golfer's shot and might also lead to the cigar being dropped or damaged. Some golfers have been known to set their cigars on the ground while taking the shot, but this can be unsanitary to place the cigar portion that will be put back in the golfer's mouth onto the ground. Also, the hot, lit end of the cigar might damage the grass on the course.

To alleviate these concerns, various solutions have been devised. U.S. Pat. No. 3,001,529 shows a golf smoke tee, wherein a tray to hold a cigarette or the like is provided with a vertical shank terminating in a point, to allow the device to be inserted into the ground as a golf tee would be, providing a horizontal resting tray for the cigarette. However, the golfer may not always wish to have the cigarette placed close to the ground.

Others have devised clip on holders, such as in U.S. Pat. No. 5,868,143 where the holder clips over the top lip of a golf bag, or U.S. Pat. No. 5,842,481, wherein a spring biased clip attaches to the golf bag, with a holding tray attached to the clip. These types of holders typically extend above the top of the golf bag, which places the cigar or cigarette in a position where it can be easy to knock off when removing or replacing clubs into the bag. Further, sometimes the golfer will set the golf bag in an upright position, but other times the bag might be placed horizontally on the ground. Some of the clip on type holders cannot accommodate the bag in a horizontal position, or would need to be removed and re-clipped in a different manner in order to maintain the holding portion in a substantially horizontal configuration so as to adequately support the cigar or cigarette. Also, these types of holders may not be compatible for attachment to a golf cart, should the golfer be employing a cart.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention, a smoking article holder is provided with an engagement member adapted to snap onto a snap button, for removable attachment to a variety of devices. A vertical shank with pointed end is also provided, to allow the option of inserting the holder into the ground, or into a golf tee holder on a pull cart or the like, if desired.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved smoking article holder.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved cigar holder for easy attachment to a golf club bag.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an improved holder for holding a cigar, cigarette, or the like, wherein the holder is removably attachable to a standard size snap attachment.

The subject matter of the present invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of this specification. However, both the organization and method of operation, together with further advantages and objects thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the smoking article holder;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the smoking article holder taken from the reverse side of the view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the smoking article holder;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the smoking article holder; and

FIG. 5 is an end view of the smoking article holder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a smoking article holder for use in golfing. Referring to FIG. 1, a perspective view of the smoking article holder 10, an elongate curved concave up tray portion 12 with open ends is provided, adapted to receive therein a cigar 14 or cigarette (for example), illustrated in phantom (FIG. 5). The holder is mounted (suitably formed as a unitary body in the preferred embodiment) to an elongate shaft portion 16, positioned substantially centrally of the tray 12, attached to the convex face of the tray. Plural members 18 may be provided to strengthen the area of attachment between the shaft and the tray. The end of the shaft distal from the tray is suitably provided with a pointed portion 20, to enable easier insertion of the shaft into the ground.

On one side face of the tray portion, a snap extension member 22 extends outwardly away from the face of the tray, suitably configured as a hollow cylinder portion. The diameter 24 of the opening is suitably chosen to be a standard press snap fastener “button” size, for example, to engagingly fit a 10.5 mm, 11 mm, 12.5 mm, 13.5 mm or 14 mm press snap fastener stud portion within the opening, these being typical sizes in use. Other sizes are accommodated by modification of the diameter 24 of the socket 22, which may be accomplished in manufacture or by inclusion of a diameter reducing insert for making the inner diameter 24 smaller to accommodate a smaller size stud. The extension member 22 thereby functions as a socket portion 22 of a press snap fastener.

The holder 10 is suitably made of an injection molded plastic in the preferred embodiment.

FIG. 4, a side view of the holder, illustrates that text or graphics 26 may be suitable placed on the face of the holder on the side opposed the 22. The text or graphics may comprise advertising or promotional material, making the holder 10 suitable for use as a marketing or promotional item.

FIG. 5, an end view of the holder 10, illustrates the interface with a press snap fastener stud portion 28, which in the preferred embodiment comprises a snap faster stud on a golf bag or golf cart. Golf bags and some golf carts typically include snap press fasteners for attaching covers or other items thereto. Golf bags in particular will have one or more such fastener studs positioned in various locations on the outside of the bag. The holder portion 22 suitably snaps onto the fastener stud 28, to removably mount the holder to the fastener stud. The interrelation of the holder and stud is such that the holder may be rotated easily, so that no matter the orientation of the golf bag, the holder can be easily positioned to maintain the cigar 14 in a substantially horizontal orientation. Thus, if the bag is positioned substantially vertically, the holder may be positioned such that the longitudinal axis of the tray portion is at approximately 90 degrees to the longitudinal axis of the golf bag. If the bag is position at an angle to the ground (some bags include legs for setting at an angle, or are mounted at an angle on a wheeled carrier), the holder can be rotated to still be parallel to the ground. Similarly, if the bag is positioned with its longitudinal axis parallel to the ground, the holder can be rotated such that its longitudinal axis is parallel to the bag and thus to the ground, ensuring the cigar or cigarette will rest in the holder.

The inclusion of the shaft 16 with pointed end 20 enables the device to also be used by pressing it into the ground, if desired. Thus, in the case where the golf bag is not nearby or not being used or if for some reason a snap fastener stud is not available, the holder can still be employed to hold the smoking article.

A further advantage of the shaft and pointed end, which correspond to the configuration of a golf tee, is that the smoking article holder can be inserted into a golf tee holder such as would be present on a pull cart, for example. Thus, the user has the option of attaching to a press snap stud or securing in a tee holder.

Therefore, in accordance with the invention, an improved holder for smoking articles, such as cigars or cigarettes, is provided that can be easily attached to a snap fastener stud and is rotatable to maintain the holder substantially horizontal so that the smoking article will rest in the holder tray. A golf-tee-like pointed shaft portion may also be mounted to the holder, to enable the holder to be placed in the ground when not attached to a snap fastener stud, or to enable insertion into a tee holder as an alternative to placement on a press snap stud.

While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. The appended claims are therefore intended to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A smoker's article holder, comprising:

a support portion for receiving a smoker's article therein; and

a press snap fastener socket portion associated with said support portion for enabling removable attachment of said support portion to a press snap fastener stud.

2. The smoker's article holder according to claim 1, wherein said support portion comprises a tray member.

3. The smoker's article holder according to claim 2, wherein said tray portion is curved.

4. The smoker's article holder according to claim 1, wherein said support portion receives the smoker's article along an inner face portion thereof and wherein said press snap fastener socket portion is formed on an outer face of said support portion.

5. The smoker's article holder according to claim 1, further comprising a shaft member in association with said support portion for enabling insertion of said shaft member into the ground.

6. A cigar holder, comprising

a cigar receiving tray for receiving and supporting a cigar; and

a press snap fastener socket member attached to said cigar receiving tray, for receiving a press snap fastener stud in removable engagement for mounting said cigar holder to a support.

7. The cigar holder according to claim 6, wherein said support comprises a golf club bag.

8. The cigar holder according to claim 6, wherein said support comprises a golf cart.

9. The cigar holder according to claim 6, further comprising an elongate shaft member mounted in association with said cigar receiving tray support portion for enabling insertion of said shaft member into the ground.

10. The cigar holder according to claim 9, wherein said shaft member comprises a pointed end member for easier insertion into the ground.

11. The cigar holder according to claim 6, wherein said cigar receiving tray further comprises a portion adapted for placing text or graphics thereon.

12. The cigar holder according to claim 6, wherein said tray comprises a plastic.

13. A method of providing a smoking article holder, comprising:

providing a cradle member for receiving a smoking article therein in a supporting orientation that supports the smoking article substantially along an elongate axis thereof; and

providing a press snap fastener member in relation to said cradle member for enabling attachment of said smoking article holder to a corresponding snap fastener member on another object.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein said snap fastener member comprises a snap fastener socket.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein said another object comprise a golf bag.

16. The method according to claim 13, wherein said press snap fastener member comprises a snap fastener socket and said corresponding snap fastener member comprises a press snap fastener stud.